choose today whom you will serve. Choose the gods whom your ancestors served  or…… serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14)

Choices are ever present tasks humanity face. This year will present many options from which you will have to make your choices. What will be your response? “His options” or “earthly sources”? Your choice will create either an opportunity or an obstacle so it is important to choose wisely.

Let us look at examples of peoples choices and the impact on their persons and society:

The first is Gehazi (2 Kings 5): He was an assistant to Elisha the prophet who refused to accept Naaman’s gifts after the Lord healed his leprosy. Gehazi thought otherwise and went after the “earthly source,” the gifts. The consequences of Gehazi’s choice was, “the skin disease that was washed away from Naaman in the Jordan River will now infect you and your offspring for all of time (2 Kings 5:27)” The second person is the rich young man who asked Jesus, “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He was asked to sell and distribute all he had to the poor so he will have treasure in heaven; and to follow Jesus. But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich (Matthew 19:16-23). His choice of sticking to “earthly sources” caused him to miss what he was seeking, “eternal life”

The third is Mary the virgin (Luke 1:26-37): She had to make a choice of committing to the the angels request of allowing the Holy Spirit to overshadow her or choosing to continue with “earthly source” of pain and anguish of “what society will say” on becoming pregnant without Josephs’ knowledge. She made the right choice declaring, “let it be unto me according to your word”. She became the mother of Jesus who is our saviour.

The fourth is Paul the apostle (Acts 9:1-6) who made the right choice when he had a revelation on his way to destroy the disciples. He asked, What do you want me to do Lord?” When he had the answer, he further stated,  I didn’t confer with anyone right away, nor did I go to those who were already emissaries in Jerusalem. I went straight to Arabia and later returned to Damascus (Galatians 1:15-17). He became an apostle and wrote the epistles we read today. Gehazi and the young rich man acted on their will. They made the wrong choices which brought pain, hurt, stagnation and loss of posterity. Contrasting their responses to Mary and Paul who asked key questions, “how can this be?” and “what do you want me to do?” chose right and their right choices brought eternal benefits, the sustenance of posterity.

When confronted with choices, the questions to ask are, “how can this be?” and “what do you want me to do?.” Be willing to make the right choices this year, as such actions create opportunities and privileges for you and future generations.  Amen

Dr Rex

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